Story of Stagger Lee Crosses Over to The Mississippi Delta Blues

Stagger Lee Portrait

It all went down on December 25th, 1895. Stagger lee Shelton was an African American cab driver and pimp convicted of murdering William “Billy” Lyons on Christmas Eve, 1895 in St. Louis,Missouri. Why is this story so important to the Delta Blues?

...Because Good old Stagger Lee had many a song written about the incident, writes this delta blues blogger...

Staples Singers Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1999

The Staple Singers have been called “God’s greatest hitmakers.” Steeped in the music of the church, this singing family from Mississippi crossed into the pop mainstream without compromising their gospel roots. Fronted by patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples, the Staple Singers have left an imprint of soulful voices, social activism, religious conviction and danceable “message music” across the decades since the release of “Uncloudy Day” in 1956.

Inducted: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1999
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